“That week of practice, it was like, in order for us to really take a step in the right direction, it’s got to begin with someone,” he said. “Once I buy in, then people behind me that look up to me will follow. It was that week I was like, ‘Alright, I have nothing to lose here. I have to step up as a leader.’”
The cycle of leadership was turning again in his favor. At Cranbrook, Wagner played under Matt Giampetroni (Duke) and Taylor Ghesquiere (Wesleyan) before taking over the offense. He served as an understudy to Ryan McNamara and Thomson for his first two years.
Now, he decided it was his time to take control.
“I don’t think he realized the burden of responsibility he was going to have early on,” Amplo said of Wagner. “Now, he feels it and accepts it and he’s turned himself into a true leader. He wants those moments. He wants the ball in his stick in crunch time.”
Marquette won the ensuing game against Georgetown — coming, fittingly, off the stick of Wagner with 3:25 left in the first overtime period. Since then, the Golden Eagles have gone loss-win-loss-win-loss, with both of the victories coming in overtime.
First came the win over St. John’s, where Wagner came from the right and fired home the clincher milliseconds before absorbing a forceful hit. He’ll take it.
He made it five game-winners against Providence, scoring two of the final four goals in regulation and finishing it off with the goal just over a minute into the overtime period.
And he didn’t just show up during the victories. He had a would-be game-winner against Notre Dame on April 11 before the Fighting Irish stormed back for two goals in the final minute to steal the game.
Wagner was a solid returning player entering 2018, but has become the go-to man for Marquette, and they aren’t trying to conceal that fact.
“It’s no secret,” Brundage said. “Our team knows, our staff knows, our opponent should know. He’s clearly the best guy on the offensive side of the field for us.”
The nickname of “Johnny Clutch” soon became attached to Wagner. He has no idea where it started, but he’d like to end it as soon as possible.
“Not a huge fan,” he said.
And even though he’s been so successful as a lefty attackman, Amplo believes he’d fit better at midfield.
“I do think he’s playing out of position, ironically,” he said. “I think he’s more suited to play midfield in the field game than the left-handed attack spot. But he’s found a way to make it work at his position this year. It’s a testament to how tough he is and how much he believes in himself.”
If Wagner keeps up this run of game-winners, it might be hard to move him, or change his nickname. If history is an indicator, Wagner will find himself with a chance to win another game this season. Since it became a Division I program, Marquette 21 of Marquette’s 45 wins have come by one goal.
Wagner, the player that given Marquette five of its six wins and has scored more than 25 percent of his team’s goals this season, would prefer a blowout. That doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy the ride.
“The one-goal games kind of speak to the program that we are,” he said. “The one-goal games are always more fun.”